Packaging With Top Release Button

ABSTRACT

A packaging for housing a plurality of articles includes an outer packaging and an inner packaging, wherein the inner packaging is moveable in a longitudinal direction in relation to the outer packaging. The outer packaging, made of a first packaging material, is at least partially housing the inner packaging. The inner packaging for housing the articles is made of a second packaging material. In a closed state of the packaging before the first opening thereof the inner packaging is fixedly attached via a first connection to an inner surface of the outer packaging lid. At least one face of the outer packaging lid includes a deformable section such that the first opening of the packaging requires a pressure to be applied upon the deformable section so as to break the first connection between the inner packaging and the inner surface of the outer packaging lid. After breaking the first connection, the inner packaging is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal direction in relation to the outer packaging.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/057809, filed Mar. 20, 2020,published in English, which claims priority to European Application No.19168307.7 filed Apr. 10, 2019, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging for housing a plurality ofarticles comprising an outer packaging, an inner packaging and adeformable section, wherein the inner packaging is moveable in alongitudinal direction in relation to the outer packaging.

Packaging is known as a system of boxes with different sizes, materialsand tasks to solve. When packaging is used for housing a plurality ofcigarettes, an outer box is mostly made of cellulosic material, such aspaper or carton and is used to give space for information and serves asmechanical protection for cigarettes or the like. An inner box oftenprovides a barrier layer to greatly improve shelf life of cigarettes, inparticular in high humidity or very dry regions, and to prevent it fromdirect contact upon packaging and storage with the cellulosic materialof the outer box.

Usually, an additional outer flexible wrapping material encloses theouter box of a packaging system before first opening thereof. Thatwrapping material helps to maintain freshness of the products therein.However, once the foil is opened the seal offered by it is lost.However, outer wrapping material enclosing the outer box remain mostlyin use also to provide an evidence for the intactness of the box, e.g.before purchase. Thus, the consumer wants to be sure that the packagingfor the cigarettes is undamaged so that the cigarettes inside are notaltered by unwanted conditions. Once the outer wrapping material isopened, it is thus difficult for the consumer—without opening the box—tocheck if e.g. somebody else opened the box before or something elsehappened to the box before.

In that regard, U.S. Pat. No. 9,004,273 B2 describes a hinge-lid packagefor rod-shaped smoking articles comprising an outer box having an openend, an inner pack contained in the outer box, the inner pack includinga bundle of the rod-like smoking articles and an inner wrapper wrappingthe bundle, a lid hingedly jointed to a rear edge of the open end of theouter box, the lid for opening and closing the open end, and aseparation line for detachably connecting the outer box and the lid,wherein the separation line includes a fragile portion for determining acutoff start position to start the cutting thereof when the lid is firstopened.

Since every consumer wants to buy an unopened package, producers areconfronted with the challenge to provide a tamper evidence for thepackages on the one hand and want to save material on the other hand.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the invention is therefore to create a tamper evidenceof the package after the package has been opened so that no additionalouter wrapping material is needed anymore. In that way somemanufacturing steps can be omitted, and material can be saved.

The afore-mentioned problems are eliminated by a packaging for housing aplurality of articles comprising an outer packaging, made of a firstpackaging material, with an outer packaging container and an outerpackaging lid. An inner packaging for housing the articles is made of asecond packaging material, with an inner packaging container and aninner packaging lid, wherein the outer packaging is at least partiallyhousing the inner packaging. In a closed state of the packaging beforethe first opening thereof the inner packaging is fixedly attached via afirst connection to an inner surface of the outer packaging lid. Atleast one face of the outer packaging lid comprises a deformable sectionsuch that the first opening of the packaging requires a pressure to beapplied upon said deformable section so as to break said firstconnection between the inner packaging and the inner surface of theouter packaging lid. After breaking the first connection, the innerpackaging is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal direction inrelation to the outer packaging. With such a packaging it is possible tomove an inner package inside an outer package, while before the firstopening the inner package is fixed to the outer package, after the firstopening of the package the deformable section is deformed and the innerpackage will be arranged in offset to the outer package. That offsetand/or the deformed deformable section represents a tamper evidence.

According to the invention, breaking a connection means the destructionof said connection, wherein said connection is permanently andirretrievably broken/destroyed.

In a preferred embodiment, after breaking the first connection the innerpackaging is moveable in the longitudinal direction towards a spacebetween an inner packaging container bottom wall and an outer packagingcontainer bottom wall, wherein the inner packaging container bottom walland the outer packaging container bottom wall are arranged in paralleland at a distance to each other. Due to the space between an innerpackaging container bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottomwall the inner packaging can be moved by pressing the deformablesection. During this movement the space between an inner packagingcontainer bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottom wall willbe reduced.

In a preferred embodiment an outer surface of the inner packaging isconnected to the inner surface of the outer packaging lid by at leastone glue point. A glue point can easily be provided by known methodsand/or techniques. Moreover, glue is very cheap and easy to install.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one glue point connects an innersurface of an outer packaging lid front wall to an outer surface of aninner packaging lid front wall and/or an inner surface of an outerpackaging lid side wall to an outer surface of an inner packaging sidewall. A connection of the outer surface of the inner packaging lid andthe inner surface of the outer packaging lid guarantees that the innerpackaging remains fixed within the outer packing during e.g.transportation and/or vibrations of the packaging.

In a preferred embodiment an outer packaging container bottom flap isarranged in the space between the inner packaging container bottom walland the outer packaging container bottom wall, wherein the outerpackaging container bottom flap is connected to an inner surface of theouter packaging container bottom wall and/or an inner surface of anouter packaging container side wall as well as to the outer surface ofthe inner packaging container bottom wall. An outer packaging containerbottom flap serves as a placeholder and guarantees that the spacebetween the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outerpackaging container bottom wall remains similar during e.g.transportation and/or vibrations of the packaging.

In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap isglued to the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall.The glue fixes and attaches the inner packaging to the outer packaging.

In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap ismoveable together with the inner packaging in the longitudinal directionupon pressure on the deformable section of the outer packaging lid.While and after pressing the deformable section of the outer packaginglid, a glued connection guarantees that the inner packaging remainsfixed to the outer packaging.

In a preferred embodiment an outer length of the inner packaging isshorter than an inner length of the outer packaging in the longitudinaldirection, so that the inner packaging is moveable within the outerpackaging in said longitudinal direction.

In a preferred embodiment the deformable section comprises a partialcut-out, which is provided in an outer packaging lid top wall, whereinthe partial cut-out is at least partially moveable in the longitudinaldirection by applying pressure. With a partial cut-out it is possible tomove the inner packaging within the outer packaging without opening thepackaging.

In a preferred embodiment the partial cut-out is arch-shaped so that thepartial cut-out is fitted to the form of a user's fingertip, and thusmakes it easier for the user to press the cut-out.

In a preferred embodiment an indication sign is printed and/or arrangedon an outer surface of the outer packaging lid top wall on top oradjacent to the deformable section. An indication sign shows the userwhere the partial cut-out is positioned on the outer packaging.

In a preferred embodiment the first packaging material and the secondpackaging material are different so that the different materials provideprotection against different types of stresses.

In a preferred embodiment the first packaging material is a paper,carton and/or cardboard material so that the inner packaging and thefilling of the inner packaging are protected against mechanicalstresses.

In a preferred embodiment the second packaging material is a foilmaterial so that the filling of the inner packaging is protected againstchemical stresses, especially against moisture or dryness.

In a preferred embodiment the outer packaging container bottom flap isfree of contact towards an outer packaging container front wall and anouter packaging back wall and in particular is trapezoidal. An outerpackaging container bottom flap free of contact towards an outerpackaging container front wall and an outer packaging back wall and thuswith little resistance is easy to move during the movement of the innerpackaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, objectives and features of the present inventionwill be described, by way of example only, in the following descriptionwith reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like componentsin different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.

The figures show:

FIG. 1 a schematic view of a packaging for housing a plurality ofarticles in closed position comprising an outer packaging and an innerpackaging;

FIG. 2 a schematic view of a trapezoidal outer packaging containerbottom flap;

FIG. 3 a schematic view of an indication sign.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a schematic view of a packaging 1 for housing a plurality ofarticles in a closed state is shown. Assuming that the packaging 1 isarranged in such a way that the direction of its main extensioncoincides with the vertical, some terms such as “bottom”, “top” or“lower” are used accordingly.

The packaging comprises an outer packaging 2, which has the shape of aparallelepiped with a rectangular cross section and an inner packaging3, which is arranged to be moveable in a longitudinal and lineardirection 4 in relation to the outer packaging 2 in a sliding manner soas to allow the inner packaging 3 to slide within the outer packaging 2and parallel to side edges 29 of the outer packaging 2 and between anupper and a lower position. At the outer packaging 2, four longitudinalor rather side edges 29 are defined. An outer length of the innerpackaging 3 is therefore shorter than an inner length of the outerpackaging 2 in the longitudinal direction 4, so that the inner packaging3 is allowed to be moveable within the outer packaging 2.

The outer packaging material is different to the inner packagingmaterial. The outer packaging 2 is preferably made of a cardboardmaterial and comprises an outer packaging container 2 a and an outerpackaging lid 2 b, wherein the inner packaging 3 is preferably made of afoil material such as for example an aluminum coated material andcomprises an inner packaging container 3 a and an inner packaging lid 3b. The inner packaging 3 is positioned within the outer packaging 2,wherein the outer packaging container 2 a covers the inner packagingcontainer 3 a and the outer packaging lid 2 b covers the inner packaginglid 3 b. The stiffness of the inner packaging 3 before opening thepackage is provided by the articles therein.

An inner packaging 3 comprises an inner packaging container bottom wall10, an inner packaging lid front wall 12, an inner packaging lid topwall 14, inner packaging container side walls 18, an inner packagingcontainer front wall 21 and an inner packaging back wall 23. The innerpackaging lid front wall 12 is arranged parallel to an outer packaginglid front wall and is smaller in size, both in longitudinal andtransversal direction than the inner packaging lid front wall 12. Theinner packaging lid 3 b covers a part of the inner packaging containerfront wall 21 and an upper face wall parallel to the top wall of theouter packaging lid, wherein the inner packaging lid front wall 12 andthe inner packaging lid top wall 14 are spaced to the inner packagingcontainer side wall 18 by between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2mm and 8 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm. The inner packaginglid 3 b can be opened in longitudinal direction 4 and relative to theinner container 3 a. When the inner packaging lid 3 b is open, itprovides access to the articles located in the inner packaging 3, whichcan house for example cigarettes with a length between 84 to 83 mm.

A split 24 separates the outer packaging container 2 a from the outerpackaging lid 2 b at the side walls 15, 17 and the outer packaging frontwalls 12, 20 to form edges 31, wherein an outer packaging back wall 22connects the outer packaging container 2 a and the outer packaging lid 2b. Moreover, the outer packaging back wall 22 serves as flap and formsboth the outer packaging container back wall and the outer packaging lidback wall so that the outer packaging has a container and a hinged lid 3b so as to rotate the hinged lid 3 b, relative to the outer containerand the longitudinal direction 4 and a direction vertical to the outerpackaging container front wall 20. In the closed position, the top wall5 of the outer packaging lid 2 b is parallel to and opposite the outerpackaging bottom wall 15, wherein the outer packaging container frontwall 20 is coplanar to the outer packaging lid front wall 13. Moreover,the outer packaging container side walls 17 are arranged coplanar toouter packaging lid side walls 15. The split 24 is arranged in an angle32 of between 30° and 90°, preferably between 50° and 70°, morepreferably of around 60° from the outer packaging back wall 22 relativeto the outer packaging container side wall 17. Further, the split 24 isarranged in an angle 33 of between 90° and 150°, preferably between 105°and 135°, more preferably of around 120° from the outer packaging backwall 22 relative to the outer packaging lid side wall 15.

At the bottom of the outer packaging 2 four edges are formed by theadjacent walls, with two by two opposing each other. A first pair oflower edges 27 is formed by the outer packaging container front wall 20and the outer packaging bottom wall 11 as well as the outer packagingback wall 22. A second pair of lower edges 28 is formed by the outerpackaging container side wall 17 and the outer packaging bottom wall 11,wherein the outer packaging bottom wall 11 is arranged adjacent to twoouter packaging container side walls 17, which are positioned parallelto each other and the outer packaging front wall 20 and the outerpackaging back wall 22, which are also positioned parallel to eachother.

Two outer packaging container bottom flaps 16 are arranged in the space9 between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outerpackaging container bottom wall 11. The two outer packaging containerbottom flaps 16 are shaped rectangularly and are extending inwardlythrough folding about a folding line at each lower edge 28 from the sidewalls, such that they both overlie an inner surface of the outerpackaging bottom wall 11, without being attached thereto. Both bottomflaps 16 comprise a flap back end 16 b and a flap front end 16 a,wherein each of the flap front ends comprise an attachment area 19connecting the outer surface of the inner packaging container bottomwall 10 to each bottom flap 16, and therefore to the outer packaging 2.The attachment area 19 may comprise any of a glue stripe 19 a or atleast a glue dot preferably. Both the flap back ends 16 b and the flapfront ends 16 a are moveable in the longitudinal direction 4 towards theouter packaging container bottom wall 11 together with inner packaging3, wherein the flap front ends 16 a are positioned and/or during themovement remain almost parallel to the outer packaging container bottomwall 11, wherein the angle 34 will be reduced and the angle 35 will beincreased during the movement of the inner packaging 3 downwards. Whilethe bottom flaps 16 are represented and described here are generally ofrectangular shape, it will be apparent to the skilled person that theymay adopt other shapes without their specific connecting function to theinner packaging and movability with respect to the outer packagingbottom wall being altered. In particular, the flap front ends 16 a maybe arch-shaped or trapezoidal.

The glue stripes 19 a are positioned on the outer packaging containerbottom flap front ends 16 a and are arranged parallel to each other andvertically to the outer packaging container front wall. Moreover, theglue stripes are positioned on the surface of the flap front ends 16 aso that they are directed to the outer surface of the inner packagingcontainer bottom wall and connect that surface at least after the innerpackaging 3 has been moved towards a space 9 between an inner packagingcontainer bottom wall 10 and an outer packaging container bottom wall11. However, it is also possible that the glue stripes 19 a connect theouter surface of the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 evenbefore the movement of the inner packaging 3. It is also possible thatthe glue stripes 19 a have another shape, such as an oval or circularshape.

The packaging 1 is arranged, as stated before, for the inner packagingto be movable longitudinally a few millimeters within the outerpackaging during use. A space 9 be arranged between the inner packagingcontainer bottom wall 10 and the outer packaging container bottom wall11 as represented in FIG. 1 or between the inner packaging container topwall and the outer packaging top wall. This space 9 exhibits anextension in the longitudinal direction 4 in a range between 0.5 mm and6 mm, more preferably between 1 mm and 4 mm and particularly preferablybetween 2 mm and 3 mm.

At the top wall of the outer packaging 2 four edges are formed by theadjacent walls, with two by two opposing each other. A first pair of topedges 25 is formed by the outer packaging lid front wall 12 and theouter packaging top wall 5 as well as the outer packaging back wall 22.A second pair of top edges 26 is formed by the outer packaging lid frontwall 12 and the outer packaging side walls. A second pair of lower edges28 is formed by the outer packaging lid side walls 15 and the outerpackaging top wall 5. The top wall 5 of the outer packaging lid 2 bfurther comprises a deformable section 6, which comprises an arch-shapedpartial cut-out 7, which is connected to the top wall 5 at a line shapedconnection. The partial cut-out 7 is at least partially moveabledownwards the longitudinal direction 4 and the outer packaging 2. Bythis movement the partial cut-out 7 is pressed out of the top wall 5 ofthe outer packaging lid 2 b and contacts the outer surface of the innerpackaging lid 3 b, wherein the inner packaging 3 moves towards the space9 between the inner packaging container bottom wall 10 and the outerpackaging container bottom wall 11. The center of the deformable section6 is preferably arranged at or close to the center of the top wall 5 ofthe outer packaging lid 2 b and within a distance of between 2 mm and 18mm from the outer packaging lid front wall 12, more preferably within adistance between 5 and 12 mm. Moreover, the center of the deformablesection 6 is preferably also arranged within a distance of between 5 mmand 55 mm from an outer packaging lid side wall 12, more preferablywithin a distance between 20 and 40 mm. It is also possible that thedeformable section 6 or rather the partial cut-out 7 is shapedrectangular or oval or trapezoidal and/or is completely moveable and/orpressable out of the top wall 5.

The outer surface of the inner packaging lid 3 b is connected to theinner surface of the outer packaging lid 2 b by one glue point 8 closeto the Inner packaging upper front wall 30. The glue point 8 is arrangedat the center of the inner packaging lid front wall 13 with respect tothe transversal direction. This connection is broken, when the innerpackaging 3 slides in longitudinal direction towards a space 9. It isalso possible that one or more glue points connect an inner surface ofan outer packaging lid side wall 15 to an outer surface of an innerpackaging container side wall 18 so that glue points are arranged at theside walls of the inner 3 b and outer packaging lids 3 b.

In FIG. 2 a schematic view of a trapezoidal outer packaging containerbottom flap 16 is shown, with an outer packaging container bottom flapfront end 16 a, an outer packaging container bottom flap back end 16 b,a glue stripe 19 a and a connection side of the flap, that representsthe connection to the outer packaging container.

In FIG. 3 a schematic view of an indication sign is shown, which isprinted and/or arranged on an outer surface of the outer packaging lidtop wall 5 on top or adjacent to the deformable section 6. Preferably,the indication sign is printed on top of the deformable section 6 orrather the partial cut-out and has a similar shape, wherein the cut-out7 has a circular shape and a connection side 36 that is connected to thetop wall of the outer packaging lid. Additionally, it is preferred thatthe indication sign includes a hint that the deformable section is abutton that can be pressed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Packaging-   2 Outer packaging-   2 a Outer packaging container-   2 b Outer packaging lid-   3 Inner packaging-   3 a Inner packaging container-   3 b Inner packaging lid-   4 Longitudinal direction-   5 Top wall of the outer packaging lid-   6 Deformable section-   7 Partial cut-out-   8 Glue point and connection of outer surface of the inner packaging    and inner surface of the outer packaging-   9 Space between an inner packaging container bottom wall and outer    packaging container bottom wall-   10 Inner packaging container bottom wall-   11 Outer packaging container bottom wall-   12 Outer packaging lid front wall-   13 Inner packaging lid front wall-   14 Inner packaging lid top wall-   15 Outer packaging lid side wall-   16 Outer packaging container bottom flap-   16 a Outer packaging container bottom flap front end-   16 b Outer packaging container bottom flap back end-   16 c Connection side of the flap connected to the outer packaging    container-   17 Outer packaging container side wall-   18 Inner packaging container side wall-   19 Attachment area-   19 a Glue stripes-   20 Outer packaging container front wall-   21 Inner packaging container front wall-   22 Outer packaging back wall-   23 Inner packaging back wall-   24 Split-   25 Top edge 1-   26 Top edge 2-   27 Lower edge 1-   28 Lower edge 2-   29 Side edge-   30 Inner packaging upper front wall-   31 Edge of the split-   32 Angle of the split between the outer packaging back wall and the    outer packaging container side wall-   33 Angle of the split between the outer packaging back wall and the    outer packaging lid side wall-   34 Angle between flap back end and outer container bottom wall-   35 Angle between flap back end and flap front end-   36 Connection side of the partial cut-out connected to top wall of    the outer packaging lid

1. A packaging for housing a plurality of articles comprising an outerpackaging, made of a first packaging material, with an outer packagingcontainer and an outer packaging lid, an inner packaging for housing thearticles, made of a second packaging material, with an inner packagingcontainer and an inner packaging lid, and wherein the outer packaging isat least partially housing the inner packaging, wherein in a closedstate before a first opening, the inner packaging is fixedly attachedvia a first connection to an inner surface of the outer packaging lid,at least one face of the outer packaging lid comprises a deformablesection such that the first opening requires a pressure to be appliedupon said deformable section so as to break said first connectionbetween the inner packaging and the inner surface of the outer packaginglid, wherein after breaking the first connection, the inner packaging isarranged to be moveable in a longitudinal direction in relation to theouter packaging.
 2. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein: whenthe first connection is broken, the inner packaging is moveable in thelongitudinal direction towards a space between an inner packagingcontainer bottom wall and an outer packaging container bottom wall,wherein the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outerpackaging container bottom wall are arranged in parallel and at adistance to each other.
 3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein:an outer surface of the inner packaging is connected to the innersurface of the outer packaging lid by at least one glue point.
 4. Thepackaging according to claim 3, wherein: the at least one glue pointconnects an inner surface of an outer packaging lid front wall to anouter surface of an inner packaging lid front wall and/or an innersurface of an outer packaging lid side wall to an outer surface of aninner packaging side wall.
 5. The packaging according to claim 2,wherein: an outer packaging container bottom flap is arranged in thespace between the inner packaging container bottom wall and the outerpackaging container bottom wall, wherein the outer packaging containerbottom flap is connected to an inner surface of the outer packagingcontainer bottom wall and/or an inner surface of an outer packagingcontainer side wall as well as to an outer surface of the innerpackaging container bottom wall.
 6. The packaging according to claim 5,wherein: the outer packaging container bottom flap is glued to the outersurface of the inner packaging container bottom wall.
 7. The packagingaccording to claim 5, wherein: the outer packaging container bottom flapis moveable together with the inner packaging in the longitudinaldirection upon pressure applied on the deformable section of the outerpackaging lid.
 8. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein: an outerlength of the inner packaging is shorter than an inner length of theouter packaging in the longitudinal direction, so that the innerpackaging is moveable within the outer packaging in said longitudinaldirection.
 9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein: saiddeformable section comprises a partial cut-out which is provided in anouter packaging lid top wall, wherein the partial cut-out is at leastpartially moveable in the longitudinal direction by applying pressure.10. The packaging according to claim 9, wherein: the partial cut-out isarch-shaped.
 11. The packaging according to claim 9, wherein: anindication sign is printed and/or arranged on an outer surface of theouter packaging lid top wall on top or adjacent to the deformablesection.
 12. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein: the firstpackaging material and the second packaging material are different. 13.The packaging according to claim 1, wherein: the first packagingmaterial is a paper, carton and/or cardboard material.
 14. The packagingaccording to claim 1, wherein: the second packaging material is a foilmaterial.
 15. The packaging according to claim 5, wherein: the outerpackaging container bottom flap is free of contact towards an outerpackaging container front wall and an outer packaging back wall.
 16. Thepackaging according to claim 15, wherein: the outer packaging containerbottom flap is trapezoidal.